What Influenced You?

[Anonymous]

When I was young a neighbour had a O scale layout in his basement. I had to sneek a peek through the window to see. Then my oldest brother received a Lionel set for christmas. He destroyed it but I was hooked by then.
Ian Frost

[Trainnut484]

My late father was a engineer for the Santa Fe, and when I was around eight years old, "Santa Claus" gave me an HO set for Christmas. I've been hooked since then.

Take care[:)]

Russell

[Trainnut484]

My late father was a engineer for the Santa Fe, and when I was around eight years old, "Santa Claus" gave me an HO set for Christmas. I've been hooked since then.

Take care[:)]

Russell

[Anonymous]

Voted other. It was a visit to a model railroad shop on the purpose of starting in the hobby. I was interested in trains since I was quite young. But I never did anything about it. I saw an article in Boys' Life magazine in the 60s that really kept it on my mind. Shortly after I got married and had some ca***o spare my wife and I visited a hobby shop to get started. She thought it was just a passing phase. Well, here I still am some 29 years later and she's still wondering when this phase will pass.

[Anonymous]

Voted other. It was a visit to a model railroad shop on the purpose of starting in the hobby. I was interested in trains since I was quite young. But I never did anything about it. I saw an article in Boys' Life magazine in the 60s that really kept it on my mind. Shortly after I got married and had some ca***o spare my wife and I visited a hobby shop to get started. She thought it was just a passing phase. Well, here I still am some 29 years later and she's still wondering when this phase will pass.

[Anonymous]

Riding behind a smoke, cinders and steam belching CN Pacific 4-6-2 to the beach every summer in gas-lit, arched-windowed wooden coaches was what peaked my interest in railroading. The prime excitement every day was to meet the noon train, and hitch a ride in the baggage car to the wye, water tower and back, as the crew turned and watered her for the trip back to the city at 7:00 p.m. (The second highlight of the day.) As a consequence of my enthusiasm, my dad got me a tinplate train set for Christmas one year.

[Anonymous]

Riding behind a smoke, cinders and steam belching CN Pacific 4-6-2 to the beach every summer in gas-lit, arched-windowed wooden coaches was what peaked my interest in railroading. The prime excitement every day was to meet the noon train, and hitch a ride in the baggage car to the wye, water tower and back, as the crew turned and watered her for the trip back to the city at 7:00 p.m. (The second highlight of the day.) As a consequence of my enthusiasm, my dad got me a tinplate train set for Christmas one year.

[Anonymous]

1933 worlds fair model trains and watching the C&O mikes in Indiana

[Anonymous]

1933 worlds fair model trains and watching the C&O mikes in Indiana

[Anonymous]

One of my cousin's and I both had train sets and we played with them when we where together.

[Anonymous]

One of my cousin's and I both had train sets and we played with them when we where together.

[Anonymous]

My father was a warehouse forman for the Soo Line in Milwaukee so I had a chance to see trains up close quite often. We also used his railroad pass to travel on vacations. My interest in model railroading was started with a Lionel train set for Christmas bck in the early '50's.

[Anonymous]

My father was a warehouse forman for the Soo Line in Milwaukee so I had a chance to see trains up close quite often. We also used his railroad pass to travel on vacations. My interest in model railroading was started with a Lionel train set for Christmas bck in the early '50's.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with a NH branchline in my backyard.
Even got to help couple and set out cars for a while.
Well before the tracks got taken up, I had my first HO on a 4X8
and I have been INTO it since...

[Anonymous]

I grew up with a NH branchline in my backyard.
Even got to help couple and set out cars for a while.
Well before the tracks got taken up, I had my first HO on a 4X8
and I have been INTO it since...

[Billba]

When I was 2 yrs. old, Union Pacific steam ran across the back of my dad's farm in Kansas. My first train set was a Marx 027 0-4-0 for Christmas. My 5 yr old brain told my parents that "Real trains only have two tracks!". Received an American Flyer Atlantic S gauge high rail the next year. Still have it. Learned about HO and magazines in the late '50s and was hooked. Have a rough start on an HO/HOn3 layout and I am learning and enthusiastic .

[Billba]

When I was 2 yrs. old, Union Pacific steam ran across the back of my dad's farm in Kansas. My first train set was a Marx 027 0-4-0 for Christmas. My 5 yr old brain told my parents that "Real trains only have two tracks!". Received an American Flyer Atlantic S gauge high rail the next year. Still have it. Learned about HO and magazines in the late '50s and was hooked. Have a rough start on an HO/HOn3 layout and I am learning and enthusiastic .

[Anonymous]

CHRISTMAS 1948 RECEIVED A LIONEL TRAIN SET IT INCLUDED 1 2-4-2 STEAM LOCO (DIDN'T HAVE SMOKE UNIT, A TENDER WITH AN A/C OVERRIDE WHISTLE, CABOOSE, SUNOCO TANKER, PRR GONDOLA
AND COAL HOPPER CARANY OH YES 12 SECTIONS OF CURVED TRACK, AND 4 SECTIONS STRAIGHT TRACK EVERYTHING 0-27 GAUGE.

STILL HAVE EQUIPMENT

CHOOCHOO

[Anonymous]

CHRISTMAS 1948 RECEIVED A LIONEL TRAIN SET IT INCLUDED 1 2-4-2 STEAM LOCO (DIDN'T HAVE SMOKE UNIT, A TENDER WITH AN A/C OVERRIDE WHISTLE, CABOOSE, SUNOCO TANKER, PRR GONDOLA
AND COAL HOPPER CARANY OH YES 12 SECTIONS OF CURVED TRACK, AND 4 SECTIONS STRAIGHT TRACK EVERYTHING 0-27 GAUGE.

STILL HAVE EQUIPMENT

CHOOCHOO

[Anonymous]

My dad bought me a Lionel train set when I was 2 years old (1940). When I was old enough to set it up myself other than Christmas time, he helped me build a 4x6 layout. When in college I switched to HO (1957). It's been a good time!

[Anonymous]

My dad bought me a Lionel train set when I was 2 years old (1940). When I was old enough to set it up myself other than Christmas time, he helped me build a 4x6 layout. When in college I switched to HO (1957). It's been a good time!

[n2mopac]

I grew up in a railroad town on the MoPac Sedalia sub, so an interest in trains was natural. As a child I had a few toy trains, but nothing special. I always wanted a more serious train set. Then, as an adult (age 28), I happened into a model railroad shop in a flea market in Orlando, FL and realized that there was a whole hobby surrounding my natural interest in trains. I was already skilled in building and some detail work, so modeling was rather natural to learn. I immediately found MR mag and began reading it, which was my initial and real education in the hobby. That was nearly 10 years ago and I've given up several other hobbies in favor of concentrating on model railroading.
Ron

[n2mopac]

I grew up in a railroad town on the MoPac Sedalia sub, so an interest in trains was natural. As a child I had a few toy trains, but nothing special. I always wanted a more serious train set. Then, as an adult (age 28), I happened into a model railroad shop in a flea market in Orlando, FL and realized that there was a whole hobby surrounding my natural interest in trains. I was already skilled in building and some detail work, so modeling was rather natural to learn. I immediately found MR mag and began reading it, which was my initial and real education in the hobby. That was nearly 10 years ago and I've given up several other hobbies in favor of concentrating on model railroading.
Ron

[Anonymous]

When I was a young lad, I had a neighbor next door who had this wonderful elevated trackwork going from one room to another in his third floor, old house. I remember that he had the expensive Varney line diesel F engines (probably around $60.00 each for the kits) with the diecast bodies and the belt drives. When I saw his engines, they weren't painted, just the white metal original color. They ran very smoothly and he hand laid all of his track with the Tru-Scale pre-formed milled roadbed with the grooves in which to spike the track. This was HO scale. I don't remember whether he had cars or not at this stage because he didn't stay my neighbor for very long. His railroad excited me quite a bit, and, before long, I spent a week's allowance on a Varney Ore Car Kit, which to me was "the greatest thing since sliced, white bread"!

[Anonymous]

When I was a young lad, I had a neighbor next door who had this wonderful elevated trackwork going from one room to another in his third floor, old house. I remember that he had the expensive Varney line diesel F engines (probably around $60.00 each for the kits) with the diecast bodies and the belt drives. When I saw his engines, they weren't painted, just the white metal original color. They ran very smoothly and he hand laid all of his track with the Tru-Scale pre-formed milled roadbed with the grooves in which to spike the track. This was HO scale. I don't remember whether he had cars or not at this stage because he didn't stay my neighbor for very long. His railroad excited me quite a bit, and, before long, I spent a week's allowance on a Varney Ore Car Kit, which to me was "the greatest thing since sliced, white bread"!

[johngraser]

Recieve a Marx 027 Battery powered set when I was 4.

Also heard stories of my Grand Father (passed away before I was Born) that worked for Southern Pacific that my mother and Grandmother talked about.

John

[johngraser]

Recieve a Marx 027 Battery powered set when I was 4.

Also heard stories of my Grand Father (passed away before I was Born) that worked for Southern Pacific that my mother and Grandmother talked about.

John

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

What initially got you started in the hobby of model railroading?

Please vote then share your comments below.

My dad worked part time in my grandfather's department store. Both had a great interest in the toy department. The year that I turned 3 they recieved a mis-matched shipment from Gilbert. Grand-dad got a special price for dad on the Am. Flyer Commander set, dad got busy in the basement, and the next Christmas I got a wrapped box car and 2 pcs. of track. The big surprise was downstairs... where dad spent most of the day while little ol' me went back upstairs to play with my box car and track. That's where it started and I still have the whole set.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

What initially got you started in the hobby of model railroading?

Please vote then share your comments below.

My dad worked part time in my grandfather's department store. Both had a great interest in the toy department. The year that I turned 3 they recieved a mis-matched shipment from Gilbert. Grand-dad got a special price for dad on the Am. Flyer Commander set, dad got busy in the basement, and the next Christmas I got a wrapped box car and 2 pcs. of track. The big surprise was downstairs... where dad spent most of the day while little ol' me went back upstairs to play with my box car and track. That's where it started and I still have the whole set.

[Anonymous]

I was born in July 1937. The story was that for my first Chritmas my Dad bought me a Lionel O guage train set. Needless to say I do not remember, but a few years later they gave the trains to me again and I still have them. I have added additional O and O27 guage trains, but now that I am retired i am switching over to HO and saving my Lionel for my Son and brand new Grandson.